You are Liable if you Hire Uninsured or Unlicensed Tree Trimmers

You may save a few dollars by hiring an uninsured or even unlicensed tree trimmer. But did you know that when you do so, you are liable for that person’s safety? It’s true. You are considered that person’s employer, even if they work for a tree trimming company. You can even be prosecuted for wrongful death if an accident occurs, and you will probably lose the case.
There have been many lawsuits like this in the past, the most recent being Ramirez vs. Nelson. In this case, a California couple hired a tree trimming company to come out and trim their tree. When Ramirez was trimming, he somehow touched a power line with his trimming pole and was electrocuted and killed. The Nelsons, the homeowners, were in the house when the accident occurred. They didn’t see it happen and they were unaware that the tree trimmer was uninsured and not licensed to do the work that he was doing.
Unfortunately, many people think that they can learn how to trim trees and make some money. They do not go through the proper channels of becoming licensed, insured and they do not get themselves extensively trained in tree trimming safety. The Nelson’s argued that they had nothing to do with the accident. The attorney said that they were the employee’s agent. They were liable because they hired someone unlicensed to trim a tree over 15 feet tall. They had only assumed that he was licensed.
The Nelson’s tried to have the lawsuit covered by Workman’s Compensation. But, because this employee worked for them for less than 52 hours, Workman’s Compensation did not apply. So, the Nelson’s were charged with wrongful death.
When look for tree trimming Austin, make sure that you thoroughly check out the one that you hire. Make sure that they have had the proper training and carry their own insurance. The most highly trained and experienced tree trimmer you can hire is a Certified Arborist. If you hire and Arborist with the right certification, then you can be sure that they have the proper training to do the job with safety in mind.
Ask to see credentials before you allow work to begin. Do not put yourself in a situation where your liability comes into question. Be safe and hire an Austin tree trimming company that is familiar with your type of trees and has had extensive training and experience with them. Be safe, not sorry.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Tree Trimming in Austin

There is a myriad of tree trimmers to choose from when you are looking for tree trimming services in Austin. You are probably wondering who you can trust to treat your trees as if they were their own. Many people have this problem. You may be looking for a good price, but you also want to make sure that you are not just hiring someone who bought a chainsaw and called themselves a tree trimmer!
The first thing you should do is exactly what you are doing now. Do a little research before you start going down the list and calling people for estimates. Trees can suffer irreparable damage if they are not trimmed correctly. For this reason, you should consider a certified arborist when looking for the right tree trimmer. In Austin, we hold our trees dear, because we know what a precious resource they are. You need to hire someone interested in the conservation of your trees.
An arborist is an extensively trained professional. You may be more familiar with an arborist being called a “tree doctor” or a “tree surgeon”. Certified arborists have been through rigorous written tests to receive their certification. They also have to have at least three years of experience before they can take the test. A degree in Forestry is a bonus. Arborists can assess your trees health and know exactly which limbs can safely be removed.
Hiring an arborist is not necessarily expensive. Most arborists charge about the same or just slightly more than their unqualified counterparts. This is mostly because unqualified self-starters in the industry charge what people expect to pay, not because their knowledge and experience make their work worth the price. In fact, many or uninsured and do not guarantee the health of your trees when they are done. Some damage done will not even be noticeable until months down the road, so you want to be sure you are hiring dependable, qualified people.
Check on customer satisfaction. Arborists will usually be willing to show you their work. Ask for addresses near you of trees that they have treated. Find out if they have a list of references that you can call. Find out if their customers were satisfied not only with the work that was done, but with the level of service and professionalism that they received.
Caring for your trees is not something that can be taken lightly. Trees in Austin are becoming scarcer and we need to protect all that we can. Make sure that when you are searching for tree trimming Austin that you find a company that you are confident will make informed, conservative decisions about your trees.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.